Veggie Dog barks about the new year

First, don’t laugh at my doggie. He may look like he was assembled by someone with the sculptural skills of a 6-year-old, but he is at least vaguely canine, and he serves a purpose.

I call him Veggie Dog, and he ushers in the Year of the Dog.

Veggie Dog is a scaled-down version of a Prosperity Salad, also called “yusheng” or “yee shang,” part of the new year’s tradition in Malaysia and Singapore.

The salad is a compilation of shredded vegetables and strips of raw fish. Exact ingredients vary, but daikon and carrots are common. They can be very artfully arranged, and some restaurants will turn them into replicas of the zodiac animal of the year.

I came across pictures while Googling around, looking for something different to do this Lunar New Year. So that was the inspiration for Veggie Dog.

As part of the celebration, a Prosperity Salad is mixed by all the diners, who reach in with chopsticks and toss the ingredients ­— the tossing is called “lo hei” and it can get messy, but it is said to bring luck.

To make a simple salad for your home celebration, select a colorful mix of vegetables. Get out the food processor and start shredding. Stiffer veggies can be blanched to make them more pliable, or use pickled versions. Crisp wonton strips can add crunch.

Veggie Dog doesn’t include the traditional strips of raw fish, but that’s easy enough to add, just be careful about handling and refrigeration. I’ve seen recipes that use smoked salmon, the easiest option.

The typical dressing is a mixture of plum sauce and lemon or lime juice, or vinegar, plus some sesame oil.

I’ll leave the salad fixings to you, but here’s a simple dressing:

PROSPERITY SALAD DRESSING

• 1/4 cup plum sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• Sugar and/or soy sauce, to taste (optional)

Combine plum sauce, lemon juice, water and oil in a jar and shake. Taste with some vegetables from your salad. It should be sweet-tart. Add a little sugar or soy sauce if it needs a touch of sweetness or saltiness. Makes about 1/2 cup.

Nutritional information unavailable.

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